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French service

Aréthuse served between France and the Caribbean.

On 9 October 1799, she met with the 74-gun HMS Excellent, who chase her. Aréthuse attempted to flee but part of her rigging broke during the night, and Excellent caught on during the night. After a brief fight, Aréthuse struck her colours.

British service

Purchased into Royal Navy service as the brig-sloop HMS Raven[1], she served under Captain Spelman Swaine.

Fate

She was wrecked on shore on the night of 6 July 1804 in Mayara (Mazzara?) Bay on the SW coast of Sicily. Her crew was saved. The court martial on 10 February 1805 admonished the Master for having steered her too near the land.[2]